If you receive international payments in India, Wise can be a simple way to get paid with transparent conversion rates and fewer surprises.
The method I prefer is simple:
Use a Wise Business account, ask the sender to set the exact amount you should receive in INR, and have the payment settle directly into your verified Indian bank account.
For example, if your invoice is for ₹1,00,000, ask your client to create the Wise transfer so that Recipient gets ₹1,00,000 INR.
Wise calculates how much the sender needs to pay in their own currency, including the applicable transfer and conversion charges.
This means you receive the full ₹1,00,000 instead of having transfer fees deducted from the amount you expected.
Wise itself is not completely fee-free. The point is that the sender covers the applicable charges rather than those charges reducing your payment.
Step 1: Use a Wise Business Account
If you don’t already have Wise, you can sign up here.
For this method, use Wise Business, not a personal Wise account.
Wise currently offers its international payment receiving features in India to businesses and eligible freelancers/sole traders through Wise Business.
Complete the required verification and add the Indian bank account where you want your payments to be deposited.
Step 2: Don’t Receive the Payment Into a Wise Balance
This is important for Indian users.
Do not structure the payment around keeping the money in your Wise Balance.
For Wise Business customers in India, international payments received using Wise account details are automatically converted to INR and transferred to the verified Indian bank account linked during verification.
Wise specifically says these receiving account details cannot be used to hold the received money in Wise Balances due to regulatory requirements.
So the flow you want is:
Client → Wise → Currency conversion → Your Indian bank account
not:
Client → Wise Balance → Withdraw later
This also keeps the process much simpler.
Step 3: Ask the Client to Send the Exact INR Amount
This is the most important part if you don’t want fees reducing your expected payment.
Instead of saying:
Send me $1,200.
tell the client:
Please use Wise and make sure I receive ₹1,00,000 INR.
The client should set the amount under Recipient gets to your exact invoice amount.
For example:
Your invoice: ₹1,00,000
Recipient gets: ₹1,00,000 INR
Sender pays: Whatever Wise calculates in their currency
You receive the full agreed amount in your Indian bank account.
Can I Receive USD Through Wise?
Yes.
Wise Business can provide eligible Indian businesses with account details in currencies such as USD, GBP and EUR.
You can share those account details with your client, who can pay using their local currency.
Wise then automatically converts the payment to INR and transfers it to your verified Indian bank account.
Again, for Indian Wise Business users, the idea isn’t to receive USD and keep it sitting in Wise. The payment is settled to your Indian bank account in INR.
Does Wise Charge Fees?
Yes.
Wise may charge conversion and other applicable fees. As of 17 October 2026, Wise’s help article for Indian businesses says it charges the equivalent of 2 USD in the requested currency for the transfer to your INR bank account that issues the e-FIRC, its India receive pricing page says the conversion fee depends on the currency, and GST of 18% applies to Wise’s fees (not to your whole payment). Check the current Wise pricing page before you invoice.
So the transaction itself isn’t technically free.
The advantage of setting:
Recipient gets ₹1,00,000
is that Wise calculates the charges on the sender’s side and you still receive your agreed ₹1,00,000.
That is what I mean by receiving the payment without paying the transfer fee yourself.
Does Wise Provide e-FIRC?
Yes.
For eligible Wise Business payments in India, Wise automatically provides an e-FIRC, which is useful for documenting foreign inward remittances.
Wise says the e-FIRC is generally emailed within a few working days after the transfer.
I recommend keeping your:
- Invoice
- Wise transfer confirmation
- Bank credit confirmation
- e-FIRC
together for accounting purposes.
For GST, LUT and export-of-services requirements, check with your CA.
Keep in mind the automatic e-FIRC is generated for balances received in other currency and wise converts that for you. FIRA can be obtained via intermediatary bank for the amount received in INR, you’ll need to contact intermediate bank as mentioned in https://wise.com/in/blog/firc-certificate
The Setup I Recommend
For Indian freelancers and businesses, I would keep it simple:
Use Wise Business.
Don’t rely on a Wise Balance for receiving the payment.
Link your verified Indian bank account.
Ask the sender to use Wise and set the exact INR amount you should receive.
So if your invoice is ₹1,00,000:
Recipient gets: ₹1,00,000 INR
Wise calculates what your client needs to pay, and the payment ultimately reaches your Indian bank account in INR.
Conclusion
Wise is a practical option for Indian freelancers and businesses receiving international payments.
The important part is how you use it.
Use a Wise Business account, have the money settle into your verified Indian bank account rather than trying to keep it in a Wise Balance, and ask your client to set the exact INR amount under Recipient gets.
That way, if your invoice is ₹1,00,000, you receive ₹1,00,000.
The sender may still pay Wise’s applicable charges, but those charges don’t reduce the amount you were expecting.
You can create a Wise account here.
Disclaimer: Wise’s fees, features and regulatory requirements can change. Always check Wise’s current terms before receiving a payment.
